Look at these old Oaks Viaduct photos off Facebook.

Not just Barnsley of course. I watch a lot of those railway history programmes that are often on BBC4 and it's fascinating to see where lines and stations and general railway infrastructure used to be. Many buildings and structures have been renovated and re-purposed which is a good thing, but it's still sad to remember what a marvellous railway network this country used to have and now we all have to put up with deteriorating services on rail and on the roads.

I currently live just outside Dunnington, four miles east of York, and this tiny village used to have TWO railway stations with a line running east to west, although it was the privately owned Derwent Valley Light Railway and used mostly for transporting freight. It's all gone now of course but there is still some evidence of where it used to pass through the area.
Derwent Valley Light Railway - Wikipedia

Even better, a few miles up the road at Stamford Bridge the old station is now a private social club and the main platform still exists. Where the line was is now a walking and cycling trail going over a fantastic viaduct just south of the town which, thankfully, was preserved.

I understand why the Barnsley viaduct didn't survive but it's still a shame. Maybe if it was still standing and needed investment that money might be found, seeing as we're a bit more interested in preserving the past these days (to some degree at least). Like I said earlier it was a spectacular structure across a deep valley and would have been quite a tourist attraction had it still been standing and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

 

Worst thing that happened leaving the routes open to ramblers. Means they become right of ways and can't be re-opened for the use they were intended for. The Peak District was worse effected.

 

I understand that point of view but better to use these old track beds rather than just letting nature reclaim them. I can’t ever see the likes of the Monsal Trail ever being returned to rail use much as we all might think it should be.

 

If they can’t find the cash or a strong enough case to add passenger services to existing freight lines where most of the infrastructure still exists, then there’s no chance any of the lines that were lifted will be reopened. (referencing the recent news that the council have shelved their plans on trying to get new passenger services on the line between Monk Bretton and Wakefield).

It’s criminal that the line from Barnsley to Doncaster was still in situ in the late 80’s and still ended up being lifted. Had the coal traffic lasted just a few years more I’m convinced that would’ve been converted to passenger use.

 

Ever thought that many areas covered by rail may have been communally utilised before the railways.

 

Yes by Steptoe and Son.

 

Yep I crawled down there too, I did fall from the tower and break mi wrist tho. Dad worked at Monk Bretton pit so used to get over that side a lot. Came down the pit stack on a cut down Honda 90 that one of the Lundwood crew had. half way down the back came over the front and we ended up ar*e over head in the old canal. you from the stairfoot side then..

 

Bet that canal water had a nice green scum on it then!

 

[QUOTE="fitzytyke, post:Great pics. We used to have similar, but wooden bridge on the Hull Barnsley line at Hemsworth, which is long gone, but sadly I don’t think any pics are available.[/QUOTE]

Where about was it in Hemsworth please? @fitzytyke

 

Where about was it in Hemsworth please? @fitzytyke[/QUOTE]
I know there was a girder bridge at Crofton where hull and Barnsley crossed the mainline.

 

My dad worked at Monk Bretton pit as well and until around 1960 we lived at Monk Terrace (pit row).

 

It's a real rant of mine that when all the pits closed the men in the pit villages would have to travel for employment. They then closed all the pit train lines which would have been perfect for trams/trains and provided good public transport for the whole town

 

I suppose riding on a football special to Rotherham through Stairfoot Wombwell Wath etc. 1979 I think for a cup tie counts as one of my great memories of the local rail scene

 

Correct...and it stank.

 

Across from pit row on Burton Rd there was a row of houses with a entrance arch in the middle. the house next to the arch was mi Grandads and mi Dad lived there as a lad. Mi Grandad lived there into the 70's..I remember as a lad mi Dad and Grandad takin us down Klondyke to a huge allotment owned by a family called Yoxall....Was like a ranch.

 

I used to spend a lot of my time at my grandparents in Hoyle Mill & they’d tell me stories about what Hoyle Mill used to be like (they lived there for 60+ years) but I’d never seen pictures of it up until recently.

It blows my mind seeing this & some of the pictures in the old Barnsley in colour Facebook page that this tiny village with a nice park was such a hub of activity. I would love to see pictures of the canals in use.

 

Mark Yoxall still has that land I believe. He has a fishing pond on it that sits adjacent to the new bypass. I dont recall any kids living in the row opposite pit row though.

 

Ooops fgot to put mi Dad lived there as a lad in the 40's. we went up as kids in the 60's. Mi Grandad had a huge Chicken shed just up from the bridge behind some shops on the left. I've been on the pond but It would be about 25 yrs bk...

 

Thanks for taking me back in time. Monk Terrace, earth middens for toilets, tin bath once a week, ice on windows, them were the days.